Lent highlights the ever-present reality of our need for continual conversion, a continual struggle to seek first the Kingdom of God. As faithful Catholics we believe in original sin. Therefore we believe we struggle against personal negative weaknesses and bad habits, against inner temptations and outer seductions; yet we grow (in virtue) in the Life of Christ through the grace of God, manifest, especially, in prayer and in the Sacraments.
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel (Mk 1:15).”
Since conversion is more than a momentary reality, more a lifelong process, here are seven points of conversion for your consideration:
First, spiritual conversion is not a willy-nilly process heaped upon an emotional experience. Similar to the Psychological science of 'Human Development,’ conversion is an ordered spiritual journey in which the Church, particularly in the doctors, saints and mystics, provide guidance as a believer moves from spiritual birth through adolescence toward full maturity. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR, advises, “Some in the first stages of conversion think that they have made much more progress than they really have. Later on, the realization that they still have a long way to go…In all Christian denominations one can find those who, like the seed sown on the rocks, spring up quickly but have no roots and wither away (see Mk 4:16-17).”
Second, conversion must be more than a stirring emotional experience. It must be accompanied by change. Metanoia is the wrestling match with God in which God wins. Once again Father Groeschel weighs in, “If their conversion is authentically spiritual, it will be experiential (affecting how they perceive things), theological (affecting what they believe), emotional (affecting what they feel). In the beginning of a conversion, the emotional and spiritual are so close to each other that they are experienced as the same thing. In time a wise person will come to see that they are not identical at all.”
Thirdly, all Christian conversion is related to our Baptism, as all conversion comes solely through the Crucified and Risen Christ. St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, once stated about baptism: “But after the life-giving water of Baptism came to my rescue and washed away the stain of my former years and poured into my cleansed and purified heart the light which comes from above, and after I had drunk in the heavenly Spirit and was made a new man by a second birth, then amazingly what I had previously doubted became clear to me. What had been hidden was revealed. What had been dark became light…”
Our fourth consideration is the newly graced inspiration to serve the Lord, the stirring of the Holy Spirit within, which desires to serve God the Father in the Way of the Son. St Bonaventure described this very activity in the newly converted soul of St Francis in this way, “From that hour, whenever he thought upon the Passion of Christ, he could scarcely restrain his tears and sighs; for he then understood (as he made known to some of his familiar friends not long before his death) that these words of the Gospel were addressed to him: ‘If thou wilt come after Me, deny thyself, and take up thy cross and follow Me.’ And from that day forward he clothed himself with the spirit of poverty, the sense of humility, and the affection of interior piety.’”
Our fifth conversion consideration is consolation to many. Conversion, for a large majority of Christians, is a life-long struggle. Friedrich von Hugel, biographer for St Catherine of Genoa, reminds us, “God is truly the source of gradual purification as of sudden conversion, and as truly the strength which guards and moves us straight on, as that which regains and calls us back.” Most converted Christians retain a need for the Sacrament of Penance.
St. Teresa of Avila reminds us of our sixth consideration in the ever-present danger of becoming lukewarm. “It seemed to me my soul gained great strength from the Divine Majesty and that He must have heard my cries and taken pity on so many tears. The inclination to spend more time with Him began to grow. I started to shun the occasions of sin…In my opinion, I clearly understood that I loved Him; but I did not understand as I should have what true love God consists in.”
Finally, our seventh consideration is the paradox of an Almighty but Merciful God meeting a frail but resistent sinner, deadset in their tracks. Soren Kierkegaard reminds us of the paradoxical gift which follows our every step: “But there is a concerned guide, a knowing one, who attracts the attention of the wanderer, who calls out to him that he should take care. That guide is remorse.”
‘Remember, God calls all his children and wishes them all to be saved.’ Isn’t that the message of Lent?
Let me know what you think!
sh...icw
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